The trading deadline in the NBA is a day I look forward to like a child does Christmas morning.  There are only a few days like this for me.  Major League Baseball's trade deadline, the NBA draft, national signing day, the NFL draft, the first day of March Madness...ironically, Christmas is not one of those days.

Now that the deadline has passed, it is time to analyze the outcome of the buzzer beating deals:

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TRADE # 1:  Seattle Supersonics/Sacramento Kings/Denver Nuggets/Portland Trail Blazers

The first deal to go down was the days largest blockbuster.  (Blockbuster may be a little strong.)  In it, the Sonics came away with the biggest prize in Earl Watson.  (Prize may be a little strong.)

Sonics:

Players Received:  PG - Earl Watson, SG/SF Bryon Russell, and a future second round pick, all from Denver

Players Given up:  C - Vitaly Potapenko to Sacramento, PF - Reggie Evans to Denver

From a talent standpoint, the Sonics gave up more than they brought in even though they claimed the most sought after player who changed hands on the day.  Watson will be the Sonics second string point guard (something the Sonics sorely needed).  He is a huge upgrade over Rick Brunson and will give the team a better defensive presence on the perimeter when he spells Luke Ridnour.

That being said, the Sonics filled one void and created another.  What made the Sonics so strong last season was a backcourt of Ridnour, Ray Allen, and Rashard Lewis that filled up the hoop, and a platoon of big men who gooned it up on the inside.  In the past few weeks, the Sonics have jettisoned three of those post players, leaving a skeleton crew who will now have to ration their fouls.  On the other hand, that dynamic was not working well this season, perhaps due to the constant discord of the goon squad.  Both Evans and Potapenko had requested a trade, and Danny Fortson (who is still in Seattle) also demanded to be moved.  Freeing up playing time may create more harmony.

Bryon Russell was a salary cap throw-in with an expiring contract.

Denver:

Players Received:  PF - Reggie Evans from Seattle, SF - Ruben Patterson and SG - Charles Smith from Portland

Players Given up:  PG - Earl Watson, SG/SF Bryon Russell, and a future second round pick to Seattle, and SG - Voshon Lenard to Portland.

Denver exchanged problem children and still failed to bring in the sharpshooting two guard they have coveted for two seasons now.  They did bring in a talented rebounder in Evans who will provide depth on a front court maligned with injuries.  Ruben Patterson will bring defensive tenacity that has been missing with a banged up Eduardo Najera.  The fact that Patterson and Evans both wore out their welcome on their previous teams can only be mitigated because the Nuggets were able to schlough off two guards who had complained about playing for Denver.

Portland:

Players Received:  SG - Voshon Lenard from Denver, PF - Brian Skinner from Sacramento

Players Given up:  SF - Ruben Patterson, SG - Charles Smith to Denver, SF - Sergei Monia to Sacramento

Portland may have come out best in this deal.  They receive some salary cap relief by exiling the pouty (and perhaps rapist-y) Patterson for Lenard.  They also picked up a useful power forward who can spell Zach Randolph in Skinner.  Being able to get rid of another player who helped to create the team's bad public persona slightly make up for the team's failure to win the Penny Hardaway cap relief derby.

Sacramento:

Players Received:  SF - Sergei Monia from Portland, C - Vitaly Potapenko from Seattle

Players Given up:  PF - Brian Skinner to Portland

In return for one reserve, the Kings brought in two reserves.  Considering Sacramento's lack of depth, this trade provided them with a decent value.

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TRADE # 2:  Oklahoma City Hornets/New Jersey Nets

Oklahoma City:

Players Received:  PF/C - Marc Jackson, PF - Linton Johnson

Players Given up:  SF - Bostjan Nachbar

Fans of the Hornets appear to be disgruntled by this move.  Odds are it is because their expectations were too high in anticipation of something involving J.R. Smith.  (There was a wild--and collective bargaining agreement illegal--rumor of Smith being packaged with David West and two first round picks for Kevin Garnett.)  Considering what the Hornets had to achieve before the deadline, this was a fantastic acquisition, though.  Considering that "Birdman" Andersen is out of the league and that Jackson Vroman is out for the season after breaking his wrist, two power forwards for the little used Nachbar was a coup.  While getting a superstar post man is always an objective, it is typically little more than a dream...particularly considering what assets the Hornets had to trade.  So, a solid but unspectacular body with six fouls and the capability to rebound should have tickled the fanbase (particularly when they were pumped at the prospect of bringing in Steven Hunter only a couple of weeks ago).

Losing Nachbar means the Hornets have no outside sniper unless Arvydas Macijauskas starts showing life.  Considering how often Nachbar actually came through as an outside sniper, though, they are basically in the same boat now.

Supposedly, another deal was turned in by the Hornets.  The Hornets would have sent J.R. Smith to San Antonio and the Spurs would have shipped Brent Barry to a mystery third team.  That third team would have sent a player (rumored to be a big man) to Oklahoma City and Byron Scott was reportedly excited about the deal.  Unfortunately, the paperwork was faxed in about five minutes past the deadline and was nixed by the league.  Now, Smith and Scott are fueding through the media after Smith threw a tantrum and Scott accused him of lying.  Look for Smith the be traded before the draft.

New Jersey:

Players Received:  SF - Bostjan Nachbar

Players given up:  PF/C - Marc Jackson, PF - Linton Johnson

"Bokie" may become the outside shooter he threatens to bein pregame warm-ups when the clock is running at some point, but that was not New Jersey's goal in making this deal.  If they could have traded Jackson for nothing more than a Charlotte second rounder, they would have pulled the trigger there first.  What motivated the Nets was shaving a couple million dollars from their payroll in hopes of skating under the luxury tax threshold at season's end.

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TRADE # 3:  Cleveland Cavaliers/Seattle Supersonics

Cleveland Cavaliers: 

Players Received:  SG - Ronald "Flip" Murray

Players given up:  SG - Mike Wilks

This is the coup of the day, and it has not received nearly enough coverage.  The Cavs were in need of a shooting guard since they may be without Larry Hughes until the playoffs, and they basically stole Murray from Seattle.  For those who do not remember, or never knew, Murray was fantastic two seasons ago for the Sonics when Ray Allen was hurt.  Then, when Allen came back, minutes were scarce for Flip, who has been in a sort of pergatory ever since.

Murray could have vetoed this trade, and forfeited his "Bird Rights" which could have been used to get a bigger contract next Summer when he will likely be a hot commodity.  He is taking a calculated risk that he will be able to show the same form of two seasons ago as an audition for a team with cap space.

Seattle Supersonics:

Players received:  SG - Mike Wilks

Players given up:  SG - Ronald "Flip" Murray

They got nothing.  This was done specifically to grant Murray a chance he deserves.

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TRADE # 4:  Cleveland Cavaliers/Philadelphia 76ers

Clevaland Cavaliers:

Players Received:  SF - Lee Nailon, and a 2006  second round pick

Players given up:  A conditional 2006 second round pick

Again, the Cavs got something (that may be overstating) for nothing.  Nailon was another player who showed promise multiple seasons ago before being buried in depth charts.  He has the ability to score and may be used as a sparkplug off the bench for the Cavs.

Philadelphia 76ers:

Players Received:  A conditional 2006 second round pick

Players given up:  SF - Lee Nailon, and a 2006  second round pick

They gave up a second round pick and a little used player for a possible pick.  I have no clue why they made this deal.

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In all, it was a pretty lame trade deadline.  No big stars changed hands, and most playoff contenders took the day off.